We've had lots of visitors which has been hard work but lovely. It's also made us aware we definitely need to work on our water supply, another tank is a must. It works fine when it's just the 2 of us but when there were 7 we were starting to get very low particularly as it hadn't rained for a while. Luckily we had some beautiful weather while our guests were with us and everyone got involved in helping out. The outside of the house got a fresh coat of paint, the onions all got pulled up and put out to dry, more plasterboard got put up and a trench was dug for a water pipe to provide water for the polytunnel.
After our last guests departed leaving just Rich's daughter with us. We decided with the Covid restrictions lifted to finally go down to North Wales to check on our house there. I think I mentioned before Rich and I bought it in 2009 and spent many years renovating it. We then did holiday lets before finally renting it to a couple who came in as a holiday let then asked to stay long term. This suited us and has helped support our life in Scotland. I've had worries about the place for sometime. They've never been very communicative and since the whole Covid thing haven't made any rental payments. The last time Rich tried to visit them they put him off at the last minute which was rather annoying as Scotland to Wales is quite a trip!
They had tried to deter us this time but we decided enough was enough and we'd go anyway.
It's good that we did although I think we're both still reeling from the shock of it. On our arrival there was nobody there so we ended up having to go round to the back door to try to get in. Rich had to force the door as because of all the debris in the kitchen it wouldn't open. The whole house was in an horrendous state. So much stuff everywhere and so dirty. Bottles, rubbish, food on every surface and all over the floor, just a narrow passageway to walk through. Thankfully the occupants had done a runner. The bathroom and downstairs cloakroom were beyond belief. It was all very difficult to take in, we were both so shocked. It had been immaculate when they'd taken it over and now just less than 4 years later it was like the properties you see on television which have been hoarded.
It took over a week to clear it. I bagged over 500 empty whisky bottles and probably the same in plastic bottles. Rich did 3 trips to the tip with the car piled high with rubbish. We filled up all the local bottle banks and also had a large skip which we had to fill in half an hour as it had to be left on the road and we hadn't had time to apply for a permit. As we'd let it furnished, a lot of stuff had to be thrown. The mattresses off the beds, the settee, the fridge freezer, carpets were all beyond repair. It was all deeply upsetting but a wonderful highlight was the arrival of my 3 sons. They knew how upset I was so came to help. They cleared out the bedrooms which were in a very unsanitary state, you definitely needed a strong stomach for it. I was so touched by their help, it helped me so much to have them there.
Slowly we started to clean, there's still a long way to go but we've made a good start. We came back to Scoraig and plan to head back to Wales shortly to finish cleaning and get it redecorated and up for sale. It has been such hard work and felt very overwhelming at times but hopefully it'll sell and that will help us to make progress in Scotland. I felt sorry for myself for a while and quite depleted but there's a lot worse things happening in the world and we just need to get on and get it done.
I decided to put lovely pictures of Scoraig on here and not the squalid conditions I photographed in Wales. All was starting to feel better until yesterday when the toilet overflowed and we discovered there's a blockage somewhere between the house and the septic tank. We plan to investigate further today.... Can't wait!!!!🤦
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